Weekly Prayers of the Faithful
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Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time, August 20, 2023

We call out to the Father with our needs asking that he will have pity on us.     

  1. That we will reach out in welcome to those who struggle with faith or who are different from us so that the house of the Lord shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.  We pray to the Lord.
  2. That the governments of Afghanistan, North Korea, China, and all nations that suppress religious freedom will join themselves to the Lord, love his name, and become his servants.  We pray to the Lord.
  3. That the people of Maui who are suffering from fires, the loss of their homes, businesses, and friends, and who are in distress due to the uncertainties they are facing will find the peace that God grants to every situation.  We pray to the Lord.
  4. That we will take comfort in the fact that although we often fail in our efforts to live God’s commands, his mercy is always available to us despite our disobedience.  We pray to the Lord.
  5. That through all the hardships and tragedies of life we may cry out to the Lord with the Canaanite woman, “Lord, help me.”  We pray to the Lord. 
  6. That in those times when we do not hear God’s answer to our prayers, we may have the great faith of the Canaanite woman to persist in our petitions confident that our faith will bring us healing.  We pray to the Lord.
  7. That although World Youth Day has concluded in Lisbon, young people will be inspired to live and witness the Gospel throughout all the days and years of their lives.  We pray to the Lord.
  8. That we will understand that “it is when we stoop to serve our brethren that we rise; it is love that elevates life.”[1]  We pray to the Lord.
  9. That we will make service the springboard of our lives as we exult in God and spread his joy among the people we meet.[2] We pray to the Lord.  
  10. That those who are tormented by the demons of sickness in mind, body, or spirit will be healed from their afflictions through faith in God’s love.  We pray to the Lord. 
  11. That those who have died from heat, famine, or natural disasters will be received with joy in heaven and be renewed in God’s mercy.  We pray to the Lord.

God, our Father, we offer these prayers for the Church, the world, and those in need confident that you hear our call and giving praise to you for your goodness and kindness to all your people.   We make our prayers through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

[1] Pope Francis at Angelus service, August 15, 2023.

[2] Based on comments of Pope Francis at the Angelus service, August 15, 2023.

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